Notes

Denouncing the folly of those who deal with God's people as if there were no God.

Scripture References:
st. 1 = vv. 1-2
st. 2 = vv. 3-4
st. 3 = vv. 5-7

Psalm 14 (= Psalm 53) springs from a time when the many godless run roughshod over the few who walk humbly with God. The psalmist's lyrics refer to the godless as fools because they act as if there were no God to call them to account; yet God sees their folly (st. 1) and their God-defying oppression of his people (st. 2). Confident that the LORD will expose such foolishness, the psalmist voices our prayer for the early deliverance of God's people and anticipates the time of their restoration and joy (st. 3). Marie J. Post (PHH 5) versified this psalm in 1983 for the Psalter Hymnal.

Liturgical Use:
Occasions in which the church suffers from or laments the folly of unbelievers who act toward God's people as if God is dead.

Tune

Richard L.Van Oss (b. Grand Rapids, MI, 1953) composed MAPLE AVENUE in 1984 for this text; it was first sung in 1985 by the senior choir of Maple Avenue Christian Reformed Church. Intended for unison singing, this tune consists of four phrases, the fourth being a repeat of the second. The repeated p…

Timeline

Media

A separate copy of this score must be purchased for each choir member. If this score will be projected or included in a bulletin, usage must be reported to a licensing agent (e.g. CCLI, OneLicense, etc).

$1.99 Purchase the FlexScore for this hymn instance (licensed for a single user)

$9.99 Purchase all of the FlexScore instruments/formats for this hymn instance (licensed for all instrumentalists in your church or organization)